Amusement device



May 4 1926. H. GNEWOTTA AMUSEMENT .DEVICE 5. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Feb.

' gwvmtm May 4", 1926. 1,582,977

H. 'GNEWOTTA AMUSEMENT DEVICE Origifial Filed Feb. 5', 1924 2 sheets -sheet 2 I l""" l aftozucq l mented May 4, 1926.

aranr oFFICE.

HERMAN GNEW'OTTA, G3? CLEVELAND, OHIO.

AIIIUSEMENT Application filedFcbruary 5, 1824, Serial No.

To all whom it may concern:

I Be it known that I, HERMAN GNEWOTTA. a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Amusement Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention contemplates the provision of an amusement device designed for use either in the home or in amusement places, and embodies amongst other features, a casing or receptacle divided into a plurality of compartments each having a particular valuation, and a plurality of balls adapted to be thrown in the direction of the device with a view of obtaining a'predetermined high score or better for which prizes are donated.-

More specifically stated, the invention em bodies a receptacle provided with a plurality of curved compartments which open at the top of the receptacle, and extending there from'in the direction of the front of the receptacle, the latter being closed by a door having a transparent panel so that the player can see from the position occupied by him into what compartments the balls have been deposited, each compartment being numbered for a particular valuation, the bails being thrown in the direction of the receptacle, and into a trough supported by the top thereof, which serves to direct the balls into one of the many compartments open at the top of the receptacle.

In carrying out the invention, I provide means for mounting the door for sliding movement toward and away from the receptacle, the means being controlled from a point at the rear of the receptacle, so that at the completion of the play or use of the de vice, the attendant can conveniently move the door away from the receptacle and thus allow the balls contained in the various com partments to roll therefrom, and bereturncd into a receiving compartment defined by the space in the receptacle beneath the compartments above mentioned.

The nature and advantages of the inven tion will be better understood when the following detailed description is read in connection with the accompanying drawings, the invention residing in the construction, com bination and arrangement of parts as claimed.

In the drawings forming part of this ap- DEVICE.

690,847. Renewed September 12, 1925.

ject matter of this invention comprises a receptacle 10 which may be of any suitable size and configuration, but is preferably of rectangular contour in cross section. The front wall of the receptacle is provided withan enlarged opening which is normally closed by a door 11, the latter being supported by plates 12 which are mounted to slide within the receptacle, and in this manner, the door 11 can be moved toward and awayfrom the receptacle as clearly shown in the drawings.

The purpose of moving the door in this mannor will be hereinafter described. Projecting rearwardly from the plates 12 and passing through the receptacle are convergently disposed members 13 which have their adjacent extremities connected by a handle bar 14 which is arranged transversely of the receptacle at the rear thereof, so that the door can be opened and closed from this point by the attendant. The top 15 of the receptacle is provided with a plurality of openings 16 large enough to receive a ball of any particular diameter. *In other words, the apparatus makes use of a plurality of balls preferably constructed of rubber and inflated with air or gas, and which balls are adapted to be thrown by the user of the apparatus in the direction of the receptacle, in an effort to deposit the balls into various compartments 17 arranged within the receptacle. The openings 16 will therefore be made of a size large enough to accommodate the balls used, The compartments 17 just referred to are curved from the top 15 of the receptacle in the direction of the front wall as clearly illustrated, and there is one of these compartments for each opening 16. The compartments are therefore opened at their upper ends, while the opposite ends at a point adjacent the front wall are normally closed by the door 11. Each of these compartments are numbered so that each compartplication, lilre numerals of reference indicate ment has a particular valuation, and the numbers are preferably arranged on the transparent portion 18 of the door 11 so that they can be readily seen by the user of the device. Rising from the top 15 of the receptacle is a hopper 19 of suitable size and shape to prevent the balls from bouncing away from the receptacle when they strike upon the top 15 thereof, and thereby assisting the balls thrown successively into the hopper in finding their way into one or the other compartments 17. The space beneath the compartment 17 defines a compartment 20 into which the balls are adapted to be returned after the player has used all of the balls allotted him for each play, and which balls have been deposited in the various compartments 17. The balls are returned into the compartment 20 only when the door 11 is opened or moved away from the receptacle, thus uncovering the adjacent ends of the compartments 17 and allow the balls to roll therefrom against. the door which is designed to direct the balls into the compartment 20. The rear wall of the receptacle is provided with an opening 21 through which the attendant who occupies a position at the rear of the device can remove the balls from the compartment 20.

In practice, the player is allowed six or eight balls, and it is his object to throw the balls from a reasonable distance away from the device into the hopper 19 so that the balls will find their way into one or the other.

compartments 17. The balls are of course singly handled or thrown into the hopper 19, and after all of the balls have been thus used, the total scored is counted by adding the various valuations of the compartments into which he has deposited one or more balls. .After he succeeds in obtaining a certain high score or better he is entitled to a prize which is donated by the attendant for obtaining such score. It is of course understood that the various rules and regulations can be made to cover the play which will operate to add considerable interest in the use of the apparatus.

While it is belived that from the foregoing description, the nature and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent, I desire to have it understood that I do not limit mygglf to what is herein shown and described, and that such changes may be resorted to when desired as fall within the scope o what is claimed.

Having thus described the invention, 1 claim:

1. An amusement device of the character described comprising a receptacle, a door at the front thereof and having a transparent panel, a plurality of compartments arranged within the receptacle and having their corresponding upper ends open in the top thereof and their other ends terminating at the door opening of the receptacle, said door normally closing the adjacent ends of the compart' ments, a hopper reposing upon the top of the receptacle, said compartments adapted to re ceive balls thrown into said hopper, and indicia affording each compartment a particu lar valuation.

2. An amusement device of the character described comprising a receptacle, a door at the front thereof having a transparent panel, a plurality of curved compartments opening at the top of the receptacle, and terminating at the door opening, said door normally closing the adjacent ends of the compart ments, a hopper reposing upon the top of the receptacle, and adapted to receive balls thrown in the direction of the receptacle, and direct the balls into said compartments, each compartment having a particular valuation, a compartment arranged beneath the above mentioned compartments and adapted to receive the balls when they leave the latter, incident to the opening of said door.

3. An amusement device of the character described, comprising a receptacle, a. door arranged at the front thereof and mounted for sliding movement toward and away from the receptacle, a plurality of compartments opening at the top of the receptacle and terminating in the door opening, and normally closed by said door, each compartment having a parti-valuation, a hopper reposing upon the receptacle and adapted to receive balls thrown in the direction of the device, and direct the balls into said compartments, a return compartment arranged beneath the above mentioned compartments and adapted to receive the balls when they leave the lat ter, and means operable from the rear of the receptacle for opening and closing the door, said balls being released from the various compartments when the door is opened, and means carried by the door for directing the balls into the return compartment.

In testimony whereof I affiX my signature.

HERMAN GNEVVOTTA. 

